Battery terminal connection



y Jan. 24, 1933. o y L.. E. ERICKSEN ET AL 1894,984

BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTION Filed Sept. 2, 1930 u MNHN mhh Mmmm loLUL/m72 E EFP/c/fE/v A s A LHAMMa/vs INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24,1933l UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE LoUErrz E. EarcxsEN AND ASA A.HAmloNs, E PLAINS, MoN'rANA BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTION Application ledSeptember-2, 1930. Serial No. 479,242;

Our present invention relates to improvements in a battery terminalconnection designed to both provide and maintain a tight electricalconnection between the post of the battery and the clamp for the lead orconductor.

In carrying out our invention we contemplate the provision of a hollowsplit binding post capable of being readily and conveniently expandedwithin the clamp of theilead or conductor to insure an exceptionallytight and efficient electrical contact between said arts.

Another object of our invention resides in the provision of anoncorrosive expansion element adapted to be forced into'the bindingpost of the battery to expand the latter into effective engagement withthe clamp of the lead or conductor.

It is also the object of our present invention to embed the conductingwire into the .clamp therefor, and thus prevent expansion of said clampwhen the latter is subjected to the expansive pressure of the bindingpost, sq,that a tight and efficient electrical contact will always bemaintained therebetween.

A further object of importance resides in the provision of a batteryterminal connection of the above mentioned character, by

means of which the lead or conductor can be either attached to orremoved from the binding post with a minimum of time and effort.

The nature and advantages of the invention will `be readily understoodwhen the following detail description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts as 40 claimed. f

' In the drawing forming part of this application like numeralsofreference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a battery illustrating oneembodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fi ure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the battery connection insection.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure?) of a modified construction.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawing in detail 10 represents generally a battery ofordinary well known construction, and wherein the binding post isindicated at 11. The usual conductingwire or lead 12 is equipped with aring-li e clamp 13 designed to surround or embrace the binding post 1l.In accordance with the present invention, the binding post 11 isconstructed to permit of its expansion within the ring-like clamp 13,with a view of both effecting and maintaining Van exceptionally tightand ethcient electrical contact between said parts. 'Vhile this idea maybe carried into effect in various ways, we preferably construct thebinding post 11 with a, centrally located bore 14, which extendsthroughout the major portion of the length of said post, and split thepost at diametrically opposite points as at 15. This provides 'asubstantially hollow post wherein the separated sections 16 defined bythe slits 15 are capable of being expanded for the purposel abovementioned.

While any suitable means ma, be employed to effect an expansion of saidpost within the ring=like clamp 13, we preferably employ a tapered plug17 adapted to be received by the bore 14 of the post as illustrated. Theupper end of the plug is provided with a square or other irregularportion 18`toaccommodate a suitable tool, by means of which the plug canbe conveniently twisted while inserting the plu within the bore 14 orremoving it there rom as the occasion may re, quire. The plug itself isconstructed of non` corrosive material and is preferably thread- 90 ed,although it can be otherwise suitably roughened to insure effectiveengagement with the post 11 when inserted within th bore 14 thereof.

It is manifest that after the ring-like 95 clamp 13 has been placedabout the post 11,

the latter can be easily and conveniently expanded within the clamp,thereby causing a very tight and exceptionally good electrical contactbetween the post 11 and the ring-like 100 clamp 13. Furthermore when theparts are associated as illustrated in the drawing, it is practicallyimpossible for therclalnp 1,3 to work loose or separate itself from thebinding post 11.2, On the other hand the clamp 13 can be convenientlyremoved from the post when desiredby simply removing the plug 17, andforcing the separated sections 16 of the post toward each other asufiicient dis- 1` tance, to permit the clamping rin to be removed fromthe post by means o? pliers or an other suitable tool.

nfFiigures 4 and 5 we have illustrated a slightlymodified form of theinvention 15 wherein the binding post 11, clamping ring 13, andexpansion plug 17 are of the same construction as hereinabove described,withA the exception that the clampin ring 13 has the terminal end 2O ofthe con uctir'g cable 2 cast or otherwise embedded entirely in the ring.The portion surrounding the binding post is flattened as shown at 19. Inother words the wire 20 is embedded within the clamping ring 13 so thatno wire or metal' 25 other than the lead of the ring is exposed fordirect contact with the binding post 11. The importance of thisconstruction, however, resides in the fact that the wire 20 whenembedded in the clamping ring 13 prevents ex- Y, o pansion of the latterwhen it is subjectedto theexpansive pressure of the binding post,incident to the insertion of the plug 17 within ythe .bore of the post.Consequently the clamping ring 13 can not he in any way distended orenlarged, under the expansive pressure ofthe binding post, which factinsures a tight electrical connection between these lWhileit isbelievedthat from the foregoing o description the nature and advantages of the linventionwill-be readily apparent',- we desire to have. it-understoodthat we do not limit ourselves to what is herein'ilIustrated anddescribed, and thatfsuch changes may be resorted to when desired ,asfall within the sco e of what is claimed.

aving thus fully described our invention, what we claim as'newv anddesire to secure by im A batter .,terminal'connection comprising anexpansi le binding'post, a connector ring snugly embracing said ost,y'means `for expanding the latterto e ect and maintain a tightelectrical connection between said post and ring, and a conductor havingan annular terminal end embedded within said ring and forming areinforcing ring within the connector ring. l.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures. A

LOURITZ E. ERICKSEN. ASA A. HAMMONS.

